Mary H

9.2

Smooth, fruity, and slightly chocolately. You can taste the Napa sunshine in the first sip! 375mL — 4 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

1949 vintage (!!!). Very special half bottle, but more than half the volume lost to evaporation. Opened this gem at Totoraku yesterday to go with two full bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1996 and 1952 (!!). This Temple of Beef demands special occasion wines. Cork fell apart in the bottle so we poured it all in a decanter but did not wait to sip. Pale strawberry-orange color, surprising tart fruit nose, supremely delicate taste with just a bit of fruit and life left. Not the best bottle on the table but certainly not the undrinkable. Interesting experience. Would gladly do it again in the name of science. Oldest Red Bordeaux I have ever tasted. — 6 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

More advanced than other 97’s I’ve had. Still grit with flowers. Always get a touch of Cognac from the mid 90’s BV Tapestry’s. Less on the 97. Beautiful, ripe, foral fruits with spice, barrel toast with evolution & integration. Incredible structure, balance. Violets for days. Still has 5-8 years.

This bottle on auction are more advanced than my bottles or others bought at auction. This is just around it’s precipice where other bottles I’ve had required more time. Another 8 years. This is more within 3 years. I would add that a 1997 94 points rating greatly over shadows a young(ish) vintage of the same. Just gets better and better with each sip.

1997 the vintage of our modern times. This wine was about $25 on release, give or take. Today, it drinks like a $100 plus bottle of Napa Cabernet. — a year ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.0

This 1994 Bordeaux is a pleasant treat and perfect compliment to our assortment of charcuterie and Italian antipasto. Decanted for one hour but could have been longer as the wine continues to open up by every sip. This wine has a beautiful bouquet with earthy flavors including tobacco, leather, and hints of fig. Buon Natale! — 4 months ago

with Michael

romo

9.3

Compelling aromatics, blossomed with more air. Somewhat narrow palate. Last sip the best. Unfortunately, not next-level. Vintage? — 6 months ago

Stephen F Laga MD

9.6

2016 vintage was deep purple color. Intense berries, cherries. Smooth as silk. Grey with steak. One of the good years. I could sip it all day. — 7 months ago

Blake Anderson

9.1

Lightly dry, complex flavor. Really nice to sip by itself. — 4 months ago

with Kaito

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of bright purple with a touch of ruby note. Nose of tobacco leaves, dark fruits, blackberries, licorice, and some more strawberries. Taste is dried with ripe grapes, zest, really soft tannins, oak. 2nd sip does show hint of sweetness. Aftertaste is resonant with the taste, clean, a bit peppery, and medium long finish. Nice paid with fatty meat. — 6 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Glossy and polished. Round and supple. Sun baked fruit. Not much in terms of getting the gears turning, but a delicious wine for simply wanting to sip delicious wine. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 89% Tempranillo & 11% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak. On the palate flavors of jammy dark berry fruits with spice & smoky earthy notes on ripe full soft tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — a year ago